UK: 18+ USA: 21+ | Begambleaware.org | T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly
On of Pool A’s biggest fixtures will see two-time World Champions, New Zealand take on Italy at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais in Lyon to decide who will join group-leaders France in the quarter-finals.
New Zealand vs Italy team news
World number-four New Zealand are taking no chances against number-twelve ranked Italy as they aim to insure their progression to the knockout-stages and a quarter-final against either South Africa or Ireland. On the other hand, Italy will be hoping to achieve one of the greatest ever Rugby World Cup upsets and knock New Zealand out of a Rugby World Cup in the group-stages for the first time ever.
New Zealand
The All Blacks have picked a strong side but also made sweeping changes to the team that lost 27-13 to France in the opening game of the tournament.
Ofa Tu’ungafasi comes in at loosehead prop for the suspended Ethan De Groot while Tyrel Lomax is fit to take a place on the bench.
Former captain Sam Whitelock is dropped to the bench in favour of the returning Brodie Retallick, while current captain Sam Cane is also dropped for Shannon Frizell.
Finally, Jordie Barrett returns at inside centre, dropping Anton-Lienert Brown to the bench alongside Cam Roigard and Damian McKenzie who replace Finlay Christie and David Havili.
- Ofa Tu’ungafasi
- Codie Taylor
- Nepo Laulala
- Brodie Retallick
- Scott Barrett
- Shannon Frizell
- Dalton Papali’i
- Ardie Savea
- Aaron Smith
- Richie Mo’unga
- Mark Tele’a
- Jordie Barrett
- Rieko Ioane
- Will Jordan
- Beauden Barrett
16. Dane Coles, 17. Tamaiti Williams, 18. Tyrel Lomax, 19. Sam Whitelock, 20. Sam Cane, 21. Cam Roigard, 22. Damian McKenzie, 23. Anton Lienert-Brown
Italy
Italy have made just three changes to the team that beat Uruguay 38-17 in round two as Luca Morisi, Stephen Varney and Dino Lamb all return to the starting XV.
Tommaso Allan moves from fly-half to fullback and Paolo Garbisi moves from inside-centre to fly-half as Ange Capuzzo starts on the right wing, dropping Lorenzo Pani from the squad as Morisi comes in at inside centre.
Varney replaces Alessandro Garbisi who drops out of the squad altogether, in favour of Martin Page-Relo on the bench, while Lamb replaces Niccolo Cannone who drops to the bench.
- Danilo Fischetti
- Giacomo Nicotera
- Marco Riccioni
- Dino Lamb
- Federico Ruzza
- Sebastian Negri
- Michele Lamaro
- Lorenzo Cannone
- Stephen Varney
- Paolo Garbisi
- Montanna Ioane
- Luca Morisi
- Juan Ignacio Brex
- Ange Capuozzo
- Tommaso Allan
16. Hame Faiva, 17. Ivan Nemer, 18. Simone Ferrari, 19. Niccolo Cannone, 20. Manuel Zuliani, 21. Toa Halafihi, 22. Martin Page-Relo, 23. Paolo Odogwu
Jordan vs Capuozzo
The catalysts of this game may be the two right-wingers who both usually play fullback. Both sides have selected traditional fly-halfs at fullback in Allan and Barrett in favour of moving their star fullbacks to the wing.
Jordan and Capuzoo are both electric, elusive runners with an addiction to try-scoring. Jordan, the Crusaders fullback, has a remarkable 23 tries in his 27 New Zealand caps while Capuozzo, the Toulouse fullback, has 9 tries in his 15 Italy caps including the stunning game-winning try which beat Wales last year.
In what will no doubt be a high-scoring match, the result may just be decided by these two lethal speedsters on the right flank.
Subscribe to Punditfeed on Google News for all the latest updates from the world of sports!
